Globalizing factors in the history of environmental protection · 2020. 7. 28. · 1960. A British...

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Globalizing Connections 1 The Critical Thinking Consortium

Globalizing factors in the history of environmental protection

More than any other species alive today, humans alter the environment to meet our preferences. In the long term, some of the changes we make are not wise. We cause environmental destruction. In order to survive on earth, humans need to adopt an approach to living that is more respectful of the earth’s ecological system as a whole. Sustainable technology and greater awareness will help with environmental protection. The health of our environment is no longer a local concern. It is a vital global issue. For the most part, people do not show respect for the earth’s fragile and complex ecosystems. But some observable changes and losses in the environment are prompting people to seek and protect an ecological balance. Globalizing factors in environmental protection include: • ideology and ideas • mass media • economic opportunity • political and legal intervention • energy production Ideology and ideas Fifty years ago, those speaking out for the environment were considered radicals. However, these concerns are not new. Advocates were calling for improved treatment of animals over two thousands years ago. Early protection of animals In 256 BCE, King Asoka of India issued a set of seven edicts or commands to his people. In one of these commands, he declared that animals should be protection. The animals named were: “wild ducks, parrots, deer, bulls, wild asses, pigeons, fish, tortoises, bulls, ducks, terrapins and queen ants. He also included any four-footed creature that was not edible and not otherwise useful. Buddhism was Asoka’s religion. His religious values dictated that animals could not be eaten. Aged and disabled cows were treated with respect.

Missionaries were sent to Thailand and Sri Lanka to teach Buddhism. His son Arahat Mahinda traveled with the missionaries. A hunt in Sri Lanka was interrupted. Arahat Mahinda stopped the King of Sri Lanka from killing a deer. “Every living creature has an equal right to live," he told the King. The King of Sri Lanka became a Buddhist and let his people know that no one could kill living beings. All fauna and flora were also protected at a place called Mahamevuna Uyana. It is the world’s first sanctuary. Animal sheltering was also introduced as part of missionary work. To this day, the Buddhist monasteries in Sri Lanka and Thailand often double as animal shelters. Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ A key turning point in the environmental movement was the publication in 1962 of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring. Carson was concerned by the increased use of manufactured chemicals after World War II. She warned that there could be a ‘silent spring’, in which insects, birds, animals, and even humans were silenced by deadly pesticides.

At the time, governments and many agricultural scientists were promoting the use of pesticides such as DDT without studying their long-term consequences. DDT killed thousands of insect species, Carson warned. And it also accumulated in animal tissue. In addition, it caused cancer and genetic changes in humans.

Silent Spring infuriated the chemical industry. If pesticides were banned, they claimed, people would starve while disease and insects ruled. Fortunately, Carson’s careful research paid off. Governments were convinced that pesticide use could be dangerous. Ten years after Silent Spring, public pressure in the US resulted in the Pesticide Control Act and Toxic Substance Control Act.

Carson called for a change in the way that humankind viewed the natural world and their place in it. Silent Spring was one of many books she published over the course of her lifetime. It helped raise awareness of environmental issues.



Mass media International environmental organizations work to raise the public’s awareness of environmental problems. Due to the efforts of environmental organizations, citizens around the world have become more informed and active in conservation. From seal hunting to nuclear testing, members of environmental organizations protest diverse issues. They sometimes use attention-grabbing techniques. Individuals have even put their lives in danger to draw attention to an issue. The activism of environmental organizations has helped government agencies come into being. On the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, over 20 million people demonstrated across the U.S. The strength of the grassroots gathering forced the US government to include environmental issues on their political agenda. Mounting public pressure led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in the US in 1972. In Canada, the government created the agency called Environment Canada to monitor the nation’s environment. World Wildlife Fund The image of the Chinese panda, Chi-Chi, is the recognizable logo of one of the first international conservation agencies, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The idea for the organization was born in 1960. A British man, Julian Huxley, noticed that the ecosystems and animal species of East Africa were threatened by excessive hunting. Upon his return to England, he partnered with several colleagues to form an international organization dedicated to conservation. In order to be effective in more countries, the organization decided to set up offices around the world.

Today, WWF staffs offices in over 90 countries. The organization has invested more than $1 billion in over 12,000 environmental projects. They have helped to protect tropical forests, the Galapagos Islands, coral reefs, and many endangered species like the Siberian tiger and the Indian wild ass.

Greenpeace efforts to ban on whaling The name ‘Greenpeace’ reflects the desire of its founders to both protect the environment and end the threat of nuclear war. A major focus of its

efforts has been to raise public awareness on environment and peace related issues. On its first mission in 1971, a band of determined individuals sailed for Alaska in a fishing boat to protest American nuclear testing. The mission was successful in drawing world attention to issue and the nuclear tests were abandoned. Inspired, they set out again in 1975 to stop French nuclear testing in the South Pacific.

Since its heroic beginnings, Greenpeace has become a global force in environmental protection. The organization has the support of 2.8 million members in 40 countries. They have won many environmental victories through passionate and exciting protesting that have been widely publicized around the world. In 1994, after years of Greenpeace protests against whaling, the International Whaling Commission approved an Antarctic whale sanctuary.

Despite being listed as an endangered species, Fin whales are but are still hunted by the Japanese fleet. Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org/): Jim Rezac In 2007, Greenpeace rallied volunteers to pose naked for a photo shoot on a Swiss glacier to draw attention to global warming and human vulnerability. In addition to activism, Greenpeace publishes respected reports on the environment to inform the public and spark interest in crucial issues. Economic opportunity Although economic development has been a major source of environmental damage, there are many opportunities to profit from careful stewardship of the environment.



Protecting rubber trees in the Amazon rainforest The Amazon tropical rainforest in South America spans nine countries. It covers an area the size of the United States. Biologists consider it to be the most diverse ecosystem on earth. Human inhabitants of the region rely on the forest for everything from shelter to medicine. On a global scale, the forest helps maintain a stable climate by acting as a giant lung for the planet.

Despite its value as a living ecosystem, the Amazon has been threatened for many years. An area larger than France has been logged. The logging operations are very wasteful. Only 30% of the timber actually makes it to the market. 70% is lost in poorly operated mills. Once an area has been logged, it is not reforested. Chemicals from unregulated mining contaminate waterways. As a result of human activity, the region is at a high risk for forest fires, drought, and mass extinction.

In 1976, inhabitants of the Amazon formed a human chain in the trees to protect against oncoming chainsaws. Chico Mendes led the fight. This protest marked the beginnings of a long campaign to protect the Amazon. Environmental groups like WWF and Greenpeace have teamed with local inhabitants to make the Amazon an international issue. But so far conservationists are fighting a losing battle. The government of Brazil (with the largest piece of Amazon rainforest) has tried to impose logging regulations. Their attempts are not successful. The worst year for logging was 2003. In spite of regulations, an area equivalent to four million soccer fields was cleared.

Countries that buy the most wood from the Amazon, such as Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US, have taken very few steps to buy products from legal or ecologically responsible logging companies. Also, multinational companies continue to buy soy and beef from newly cleared rainforest land. International demand fuels deforestation.

Electric cars Electric cars are an important partial solution to concerns about global warming, air pollution and rising oil prices. Though they sound futuristic, the first electric cars were actually made in the 1830s. Refinements

around 1842 used rechargeable batteries. In 1899 and 1900, more electric cars were sold than other vehicles (gas and steam powered). A variety of factors led to the decline of electric cars through the 1900s. These included the discovery of oil reserves in Texas, the demand for cars that could go long distances, and Henry Ford’s production of gasoline vehicles. Their efficient production made them cheaper than electric cars. Contemporary electric cars run on renewable batteries. These batteries are charged at charging stations: at home, work, or in public places. The focus of current research is to improve the capacity and longevity of batteries. When electric cars run, they do not produce any emissions. The environmental costs of the car come from its production (like any other vehicle), how the electricity is produced to power them, and how they are disposed of. Interest in reducing vehicle emissions has resulted in renewed interest in electric cars since the 1990s. Prototypes have been developed by major U.S. car companies. Some of these can get up to 80 mph. Most have ranges of 65 to 100 miles, after which they need to be recharged. GM’s EV1 was a highly functional sports car and sold out rapidly. However, all models were recalled by the manufacturer. Hybrid cars like the Prius use electricity to run at low speeds and gasoline for higher speeds. Challenges include moving from prototype to production; creating a network of recharging stations; and creating the will to change in the automotive industry. The automotive industry is enormous and resistant to change. Its connections with the oil industry can breed resistance to vehicles using alternate fuel sources. At the same time, they are market driven and respond to the market. Political and legal intervention Governments have long played a role in encouraging and even forcing people and companies to better care for their environment. The Great Smog The Industrial Revolution accelerated environmental change worldwide. Coal fuelled trains, boats, and cities. Factories and residences



burning coal generated large amounts of air pollution in large cities like London, New York, Los Angeles, and Paris. In 1952, London felt the worst effects of air pollution. On December 5th, a thick cold fog blanketed the city. To keep warm, Londoners burnt more coal than usual. Because of air pressure, the fumes from the coal did not rise and disperse. Instead, the city became engulfed in smog. The fog was “so dense that people were known to walk into the River Thames, unable to see where they were going.” Driving was nearly impossible. Movie screenings were cancelled because the smog hid the screens in theatres. Over the four days that the weather lasted, 4,000 people died from respiratory illness. In the months that followed, another 8,000 people died in connection to the smog. The chaos and deaths caused by the Great Smog and similar smog incidents in other cities resulted in a conference on air pollution in 1955. Britain created a Clean Air Act to reduce the smog in London. Smog incidents helped set in motion the modern global environmental movement.

Unleaded gasoline In the 1920s, several car companies found that adding lead to gasoline helped engines run more smoothly and last longer. They did not realize that putting lead in gas had a negative impact on human health. Over a one year period from 1924-1925, seventeen workers in GM, Dupont, and Exxon factories died “violently insane” from handling poisonous lead. When released in car exhaust, lead settles in the soil near roads. It contaminates water and crops. In children, lead can cause mental retardation. Despite knowledge that lead caused serious health problems, leaded gasoline was promoted and sold around the world for decades.

The US government finally enforced a reduction in the quantity of lead in gasoline in 1973. More reductions came into effect over the next twenty years. The amount of lead in urban air – and in people’s blood - decreased dramatically as a result of the reductions. In 1990, leaded gasoline became illegal in Canada. Five years later, it was made illegal in the US. All cars on the road in Canada today run only on ‘unleaded’ gasoline.

Outside of Europe and North America, countries have been slow to eliminate leaded gasoline. Many people have a poor understanding of the health risks of lead. In addition, they do not know that converting to unleaded gasoline is inexpensive. Africa uses the most leaded gasoline. In 1996, the World Bank joined the World Health Organization and others in calling for a global phase-out of leaded gasoline. Their report notes that the health costs of leaded gasoline are far higher than the benefits to a few refiners and gasoline distributors. African countries are slowly working towards its elimination. But lead contamination remains high.

Energy production

The energy stored in fossil fuels transports us places, heats homes, cooks food, and provides light. Unfortunately, burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. This gas acts like an invisible blanket, trapping more of the sun's energy in the atmosphere and creating global warming. As well, fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy source.

In order to cut greenhouse gas emissions, humans need alternate energy sources. Renewable energy comes from the natural flow of sunlight, wind, or water. These energy sources do not produce greenhouse gases. It is possible to develop renewable energy so that every house or neighbourhood could have its own renewable power generating equipment.

Wind power Humans have used the wind for thousands of years. It was used to move ships across oceans. In ancient times, people used it to turn windmills that pumped water or ground grain. More recently, people have harnessed the wind as a clean, safe source of electricity. Wind power is affordable, efficient, pollution-free and inexhaustible. A wind turbine, a device that looks like an extremely tall, skinny fan, can harness the wind's kinetic energy. At wind farms, masses of wind turbines work together to provide centralized electric power for communities. The cost of the energy is from 5 to 10 cents per kilowatt hour. This is slightly higher than electrical plants. However, the cost of wind energy drops each year, while the cost of conventional production grows.



A bank of wind turbines in southern France. © Susan Duncan, 2007 The use of wind turbine generators is growing worldwide. For example, in 2003, California produced enough wind-powered energy to power more than 495,000 households. Canada's installed wind energy capacity in 2006 was enough to power more than 280,000 homes. The growing use of wind energy creates manufacturing and technical jobs. Solar power For billions of years, the sun has poured out huge amounts of energy. In one minute, enough energy hits the earth to match our fossil fuel use for an entire year. This supply is unlimited, and costs little to access. Solar energy was used in ancient times to heat homes. In Rome by the 6th century, glass sun rooms were placed on the south side of homes. The heat from these rooms was transferred to the rest of the house when they opened the doors. Justinian’s Sun-Right Law guaranteed access to the sun for all buildings. In the south-west region of North America, the Anasazi also oriented their adobe buildings to maximize the sun’s energy for heating. In 1839, the photovoltaic effect was discovered by Becquerel, a French researcher. With this link between light and electricity, solar powered engines were produced. Through the 1900s, improvements were made in the technology. Some uses in the mid-1900s included powering American satellites, providing telecommunications in remote Australia, and powering water pumps in Africa.

Solar collectors and modules capture some of the sun's energy and change it from radiation into more usable forms such as heat or electricity. Current solar panels can capture up to 20% of the sun’s energy. Electricity from solar cells is used to run many pieces of technology in a home. Solar panels are silent, easy to operate, rarely require maintenance, and produce no polluting emissions. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Energy instituted a program to encourage a million people to install solar energy systems on their rooftops. The installation of these systems could eliminate carbon dioxide emissions equal to that produced by 850,000 cars. Cost has been a major consideration with solar energy. Technological advances have significantly reduced the costs of solar energy. In remote areas, solar power may actually be less expensive. Savings come from not needing to replace batteries or provide maintenance. As well, as oil prices continue to rise, the relative cost of solar energy improves. Bibliography Environmental history timeline. Ashoka’s edicts: http://www.radford.edu/~wkovarik/envhist/1ancient.html Rachel Carson’s Memorial: http://www.rachelcarson.org/ Electric cars: http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/ http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarselectrica.htm Greenpeace: www.greenpeace.org/international/ World Wildlife Fund: www.wwf.org Wind energy: http://www.canren.gc.ca/tech_appl/index.asp?CaId=6&PgId=232 Solar energy: http://www.solarpowerathome.com/ http://www.canren.gc.ca/tech_appl/index.asp?CaId=5&PgId=121



Recent developments involving environmental protection

Human activity on Earth has a large environmentalimpact. These changes include climate change,ozone depletion, disappearance of tropical forests,oil extraction, and chemical contamination. Inresponse, many people have participated in theenvironmental movement. This movement aims tomake environmental protection a political andeconomic priority. The environmental movementhas gained momentum in recent decades. However,most governments and citizens are acting slowlycompared to the rate of environmental destruction.

Key recent events in environmental protection:• protesting logging of the Amazon rainforest• banning of CFCs• reducing greenhouse gases• promoting local foods• boycotting the seal hunt

Protesting logging of the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon tropical rainforest in South America isenormous. It spans 9 countries and is the size of theUnited States. Biologists consider it to be the mostdiverse ecosystem on earth. Human inhabitants relyon the forest for everything from shelter tomedicine. The forest helps maintain a stable globalclimate.

Despite its value, the Amazon has been threatenedfor many years. An area larger than France has beenlogged. Tropical hardwoods like mahogany are soldon the international market. The logging operationsare very wasteful. Only 30% of the timber actuallymakes it to the market. The other 70% is lost inpoorly operated mills. Once an area has beenlogged, it is not reforested. Lands are used foragriculture and industry. Land used for cattle erodesrapidly. Chemicals from unregulated miningcontaminate waterways. The region is at high riskfor forest fires, drought and mass extinction.

In 1976, inhabitants of the Amazon stood up tologgers for the first time. Rubber ‘tappers’ work bygathering latex (rubber) from the rubber trees in theAmazon forest. They formed a human chain in thetrees to protect against oncoming chainsaws.Rubber tapper Chico Mendes led the fight.

The rubber tappers’ protest marked the beginnings

of a long campaign to protect the Amazon.International groups like WWF and Greenpeacehave teamed with local inhabitants to make theAmazon. But so far conservationists are fighting alosing battle. Because of the size of the rainforest,the government cannot enforce logging regulations.In 2003, an area equivalent to four million soccerfields was cleared in spite of regulations. Loggers,miners and ranchers resort to violent tactics, evenmurder, to get rid of environmentalists. Forexample, an angry rancher assassinated the rubbertapper Chico Mendes in 1988.

International demand fuels deforestation. Countriesthat buy the most wood from the Amazon havetaken very few steps to buy products from legal orecologically responsible logging companies. Thesecountries include Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, theUK and the U.S. Multinational companies continueto buy soy and beef from newly cleared rainforestland. International consumers and producers need tobe informed and take action to protect this life-giving tropical ecosystem.

The results of deforestation by burning in theAmazon rainforest. © CIDA: Pierre St-Jacques

Banning of CFCs

The ozone layer is a part of the Earth’s atmosphere.It protects against harmful solar rays. In the 1970s,scientists discovered that the ozone layer issensitive to certain chemicals. The most dangerouschemicals to the ozone layer are calledchlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These chemicals wereused in refrigeration and air conditioning beginningin the 1920s.



Studies on ozone depletion found that CFCs had thelargest impact at the poles of the Earth, especiallyAntarctica. So many of the protective ozonemolecules were destroyed that people began talkingabout a “hole” in the ozone layer.

Ozone depletion was finally taken seriously in1987. Twenty-four countries signed the MontrealProtocol. This was an international agreement tophase out ozone-depleting chemicals. Evenconservative leaders like Ronald Reagan andMargaret Thatcher agreed to the Protocol. DuPontwas the largest CFC producer. They announced anend to CFC production in favour of safer chemicalsthe year after the signing of the Montreal Protocol.

CFCs take from 50 to 100 years to breakdown.Therefore, ozone depletion will continue into thefuture despite the ban. But, in 2003, scientistsannounced that depletion might be slowing due toan effective international effort to enforce the CFCban. Many people see the slow reversal as anenvironmental victory.

Reducing greenhouse gases

Climate change refers to a change in the Earth’sclimate or a regional climate over time. The Earth’sclimate has always changed. It fluctuates betweenperiods of extreme cold (ice ages) and periods ofwarmth. In recent decades, the average temperatureon Earth has been rising. This steady, continuousincrease in the Earth’s temperature is called globalwarming. Previous changes in climate were due tosolar activity, volcanic activity and cyclical changesin the Earth’s orbit. This time, the cause of globalwarming is the release of greenhouse gases due tohuman activity. Greenhouse gases cause theatmosphere to thicken and trap more of the sun’sheat. Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane(CH4), the two most important greenhouse gases,have risen steadily since the industrial revolution.Cars and factories emit these gases.

The first global action to address climate changecame in 1997. The Kyoto Protocol is a legalinternational agreement aimed at reducinggreenhouse gas emissions. Since its creation, theProtocol has been ratified (agreed to) by 175nations worldwide. It went into force in February2005. Its success depends on whether countriescomply with their commitments and whether theassessment data is accurate.

A major obstacle is the resistance of key polluters.Some industry predicts economic "disaster" if CO2

reductions are enforced. Meanwhile, coal powerplants and vehicles in the U.S. produce roughly onequarter of the world’s total emissions. Skeptics andsome politicians doubt the science behind globalwarming.

Promoting local foods

Food has become a commodity on the internationalmarket. It is produced in one part of the world andshipped around the globe. The international marketmeans that people in the developed world can eatexotic food from many locations. However, theglobal food market creates many health andenvironmental difficulties. Massive farms tend touse more pesticides than home gardens. To simplifyharvesting and processing, multinationals grow onlya few crops. This results in depleted soil and lostbiodiversity.

Another concern relates to moving food around theglobe. Food miles measure how far food travelsfrom where it is produced to where it is eaten. It isan approximation of the energy used to transportfood. When foods are shipped farther, more energyis used. In the U.S., food travels an average of 1500to 2500 miles. With increasing concerns over globalwarming, the CO2 emissions from foodtransportation need to be considered.

There is a renewed interest in alternatives to theglobal food market. For example, during WWII.U.S. citizens were asked to plant Victory Gardensto increase the supply of fruits and vegetables. Thegoal was to free up money for the government tosupport the war. These home gardens produced40% of all vegetables used in the U.S. at the time.

The local food movement is another alternative.Proponents emphasize the health, environmental,social and economic benefits of eating food fromyour region. Food is more nutritious because it isharvested when it is ripe. It requires less energy tobe transported. Community is strengthened whenpeople rely on others to produce and buy food.Local economies become sustainable when peoplebuy things from each other. The new word“locavore” means someone who eats food fromtheir local area. One popular version of the localfood movement is the 100 Mile Diet, pioneered by ayoung couple in Vancouver.



Boycotting the seal hunt

Seal fur is popular on international markets. It isused for coats and other products. The governmenthas tracked the number of seals killed each yearsince 1971. The number killed goes up withincreased quotas, and down with internationalprotests. In 2003, the Canadian government set athree-year catch limit of 975,000 seals. This hunt ishighly controversial.

Seals may be harpooned or shot. However, the mostcontroversial method is clubbing. Seals are clubbedand then skinned. Analysis of their skulls showsthat some may be conscious when they wereskinned. Most of the seals clubbed are very young:97% are under three months of age.

Proponents of the hunt emphasize that seals werehunted traditionally by aboriginal peoples. Somebelieve that seals are responsible for the reductionof the cod fish industry. Finally, many state that thehunt is vital for the maritime economy: in 2006,sales of harp seals totaled $33 million. On the otherside, opponents say that the seal hunt is vastlylarger than traditional seal catches. Massive catchesby fisheries are a more likely cause of the loss ofcod stocks. Finally, they state that the seal huntcontributes little to individual incomes. InNewfoundland, the hunt accounts for only 0.5% ofthe economy.

Most Canadians oppose the hunt. Of those whohave an opinion, 70% are opposed. A vast majorityof foreigners are opposed to the hunt. For example,95% of those in the Netherlands think the hunt isunacceptable. International boycotts of Canadianseafood products have been launched. There havebeen protests against the annual seal hunt acrossCanada. On the other hand, a public opinion poll in2005 found that 60% of Canadians support aresponsible seal hunt. Negotiating these conflicts isan ongoing challenge.

Bibliography

Amazon: www.rainforestrelief.org

Climate change: www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/

International Panel on Climate Change:www.ipcc.ch

Ozone depletion, U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency: www.epa.gov/ozone/

Food miles:http://www.lifecyclesproject.ca/initiatives/food_miles/

http://100milediet.org/http://www.worldwatch.org/node/827

Seal hunt boycott: http://www.boycott-canada.com/http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal-phoque/myth_e.htm



Global initiatives in environmental protection

The challenge ahead

Environmental protection is a global issue. Humans,plants, and animals are part of delicate,interconnected ecosystems. If we damage one part ofan ecosystem, we endanger other parts. Ongoingdamage—to everything from the Earth’s atmosphereto the depths of the oceans—could impact our futurein unpredictable ways. Today we face the challengeof halting environmental destruction and restoringecosystems to a healthy balance.

Economic globalization can both accelerateenvironmental damage and promote environmentalprotection. Hopefully, we will learn to useglobalization to educate people around the worldabout environmental issues and ensure that ourlifestyles are made sustainable.

The personal side of environmental protection

One year ago, in this remote corner of the Amazon,tropical rainforest covered this whole area in thestate of Amapa, Brazil. Today, there is the constantsound of hammering and sawing as a new colony ofhomesteaders carves a new town in the forest. Thenumber of houses will grow from 5 to 120 this year.Bulldozers stand ready to resume roadwork whenthe dry season begins in June. Developers hope theroad will soon be paved. For many families, this isthe opportunity they have waited a lifetime for.Antonio Rodriguez, his wife, Mariana, and their sixchildren struggled for years working the land forothers in a drought stricken area of Brazil. Last yearwhen road graders started smoothing the new 130km road through the area to the state capital, theycame to Amapa to stake a claim to just of 100hectares of land. Today he grows corn and manioc infields marked by gray skeletons of jungle trees.During the dry season he hopes to work for a timbercompany cutting logs. “We are finally living the wayGod intended,” says Mariana. “Before, we didn’tearn enough to pay for a children’s pair of shoes.”

Not everyone shares the Rodriguez’ enthusiasm forthe new town and the paved road. But, those whowant to protect the Amazon ecosystem and speakagainst the development are not very popular. Pedro

de Silveira understands the importance of protectingthis valuable resource. He campaigned against anapplication by a timber company to cut timber in alarge section of the rainforest. Two days before theapplication hearing he received death threats. Pedroalso opposes the paved road and wants strict controlsplaced on road traffic through the forest. Recently,two men visited him at his house and beat himseverely with wooden clubs. He says, “The historyof roads in the Amazon is that the Governmentbuilds them without a development plan and itbecomes a path for disordered growth." He isconcerned that people will move in and disrupt theforest. In particular, he is concerned that as the newsettlers’ families grow they will want more and moreland. Pedro will not be silenced. While heunderstands the need for economic stability for somany of Brazil’s poor, he knows how important it isfor future generations to stand up for protection ofthe Amazon.

The future for these Brazilian children is closely tiedto the Amazon. © John Maier, The Nature Conservancy



Global initiatives in environmental protection

People are gradually becoming more aware of theurgent need to protect the environment. Canadiansare involved with many projects around the world toprotect fragile ecosystems and stop furtherenvironmental destruction. Some projects areindividual efforts and some are carried out throughNon-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such asWorld Wildlife Federation and Greenpeace. Otherprojects are initiated by the Government of Canadaand are supported by Canadian tax dollars. TheCanadian International Development Agency(CIDA) is an example of a government organizationthat contributes funds, personnel and expertisetoward environmental protection problemsworldwide. Described on the following pages areseveral projects designed to address the challengesof environmental protection.

• Initiative #1: Exploring the environment,agriculture and food security. Canada WorldYouth (CWY) created the Africa-Canada Eco-leadership program for young Africans andCanadians, ages 17 to 24. Through participationin environmental and community developmentinitiatives, participants learn to tackle difficultenvironmental problems in their home country.

• Initiative #2: Greening computer waste. In2006, Greenpeace launched an on-line campaignto force electronics companies to stop makingproducts that contain harmful chemicals.Greenpeace demanded that, starting in 2007, allnew Apple products be free of the worst toxicchemicals in the production process andproducts themselves.

• Initiative #3: Building sustainable fisheries inCuba. In 2004, the World Wildlife Federation(WWF) worked with the Ministry of Fisheries ofthe Republic of Cuba to establish a modernsustainable fishery in Northern Villa Clara.

• Initiative #4: Combating desertification in theSahels. The Agrhymet Regional Centre (ARC)in Niamey, Niger conducts research and trainingin nine Sahel countries. The goal is to makepeople in this region less vulnerable to climatechange and to protect the environment.



Environmental protection initiative #1Exploring the environment,

agriculture and food security

Background

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in theworld. Independent since the 1960s, a series ofcivilian and military dictators governed the country.In 1983, a Marxist-Leninist brought realrevolutionary change. Among other things, hesevered ties to the colonial past and allied thecountry with North Korea, Libya and Cuba. On thepositive side, his government investment in schoolsmedicine, food production and clinics brought someimprovements in living standards. However, partlybecause of communist connections, foreigninvestment declined and many businesses left thecountry. Four years later, formerly loyal soldiersassassinated the ruler. The new president agreed toreforms proposed by the World Bank.

Burkina Faso has few natural resources. Themajority of workers rely on farming as their sourceof income. When crops are poor, millions facemalnutrition and starvation. The principal cash cropis cotton—a thirsty crop. Other crops includepeanuts, millet, corn and rice. Some farmers raisecattle, sheep and goats.

There is very little rainfall and much of the soil isvery poor as a result of over-cultivation. Fewfarmers who follow traditional farming practicesunderstand the importance of biodiversity and soilfertility management. Many cannot afford chemicalfertilizers and count on rainfall to produce crops.Droughts are an additional problem. Less than 10%of the land is cultivatable without irrigation,although recently the government constructedseveral dams for irrigation and hydroelectricity. Asthe planet warms, weather patterns will change.Farmers in areas currently experiencing watershortages, such as Burkina Faso, need to find waysto protect the environment and increase crop yield asthe planet warms and weather patterns change.

Problem

Environmental change threatens traditional farmingpractices in Burkina Faso. Farmers lack knowledge

of farming practices and conservation techniquesthat could help them adapt to change.

Project goals

The Canada Fund for Africa worked with CanadaWorld Youth (CWY) to create a means for youngAfricans and Canadians to cooperate and participatein environmental and community developmentinitiatives. The goal of the Africa-Canada Eco-leadership program was to provide youngparticipants between ages 17 and 24 with ideas andskills to tackle difficult environmental problems intheir home country. Started in 2004, CIDA’s $12million contribution to the three-year project waspart of Canada’s $500 million Fund for Africa.

A student in an education program in BurkinaFaso

Strategy

The Africa-Canada Eco-Leadership Program is oneof CWY’s international exchange programs toenhance the abilities of African and Canadian youthto address environmental challenges. As part of theproject, a group of Canadian and African youthexplored the relationship between agriculture, theenvironment and food security. Young people with



an interest in the environment, biodiversityconservation, and community developmentparticipated.

Each year over three years, 90 Canadian youth and180 Africans spent six months working on eco-leadership projects. The youth formed teams of 18participants. Each team had six members fromCanada, six from one African country and six from asecond African country. The team environmentcreated a unique three-way cultural exchange. Afterspending three months in Canada, the 18 youngpeople traveled to Africa to live and work in a ruralcommunity. For example, in 2004, six youth fromMali, six from Burkina Faso and six from Canadaspent three months on an orchard and vineyard inQuebec. There they learned about agriculture andbiodiversity. Once familiarized with the project, theywent to a village in Burkina-Faso, to apply theirknowledge. In Burkina Faso, their focus was toanalyze traditional agriculture. The groupdocumented seed-saving techniques, techniques forconserving water and organic fertilization methods.They also looked at the impact of deforestation onerosion and soil fertility.

During the program, the young people lived with ahost family. They also did volunteer work in the hostcommunity. The initiative aimed to help participantsunderstand how environmental initiatives cancontribute to poverty reduction. As well, itencouraged participants to contribute to sustainablecommunity development. African participants wereeligible for business bursaries to help them applythese lessons towards the creation of eco-friendlysmall businesses.

The group identified successful practices andpossible problems in preserving and raising seeds.They organized workshops to help farmerseffectively combine modern and traditionaltechniques.

Outcome

Participants learned about environmental issues inBurkina Faso, developed skills and built attitudesand values applicable in their home countries ofMali or Canada. Working in two African countriesemphasized the sharing of experiences andresponded to the spirit of intra-African cooperation.Also, Canadians can adapt what they learned in the

project to resolve Canadian environmental andagricultural problems. So far, 440 African and 220Canadian youth have participated in the program.All have demonstrated an increased awareness of theenvironmental challenges of host communities and abetter understanding of potential eco-friendlylivelihoods. Burkina Faso and other Africancountries can benefit from environmental protectionaspects of the program while developing moresustainable agriculture. Canada and the developingworld will benefit from the Canadian youth’s globalexperiences in environmental protection. As wellthere are opportunities to develop seeds that willproduce abundant crops in a globally warmingenvironment.

Bibliography

Africa-Canada Eco-Leadership Program:http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/REN-218131230-PG9



Environmental protection initiative #2Greening computer waste

Background

In recent decades there has been an enormousnumber of electronic devices manufactured.Companies constantly look for ways to improvetheir products introduce new models with increasingfrequency. Planned obsolescence encourages orpressures the consumer to buy the new, improvedmodel. In some instances, manufacturers produceitems that you will need to replace regularly.Perhaps the replacement cost is comparable to (orcheaper than) the cost of repairs. Perhaps thereplacement parts are no longer available.Sometimes a product is built so that it cannot berepaired. Often manufacturers will create productsthat are not compatible with an older model. Thismakes the older model quickly obsolete, forcing theconsumer to buy a replacement. This is especiallytrue in the electronics industry.

Presently there is a vast array of electronic productson the market. All of these products – computers,cell phones, I-pods and other electronic devices – aremade of carefully designed metal sheets, wires,chemical coatings and plastics. The componentscontain tiny amounts of precious metals like gold,dangerous metals like lead, and chemicals that areharmful to human health. Once an electronic devicehas reached the end of its short life, it is discardedand replaced by the newest model.

But where do all those used pieces of equipment andtheir different components go? Billions of thrown-out electronic devices (called e-waste) are shipped toAsia and Africa. Migrant workers take them apartand extract the valuable metals. During extraction,harmful vapors and liquids leach into the air, soiland water. Breaking down electronic devices has anegative impact on the health of people and theentire ecosystem in the region. Meanwhile,consumers buy more and more cell-phones andcomputers without realizing their harmful potential.

Problem

Fourteen of the largest hi-tech companies produceproducts containing toxic chemicals. The AppleCompany’s Ipod nano and Macbook contain

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chemical closely linkedto cancer and other serious health problems. If Appleand other companies continue to manufactureproducts containing toxic chemicals, disposal of e-waste will cause widespread health problems andenvironmental damage.

Project goals

In 2006, Greenpeace launched an on-line campaignto force electronics manufacturers to stop makingproducts that contain harmful chemicals. The AppleCompany was their first target. Greenpeacedemanded that all new Apple products launchedfrom 2007 onwards be free of the worst toxicchemicals in the production process and productsthemselves. Secondly, they demanded that Appleexpand their collection and recycling programbeyond the existing program.

It can be 10 times cheaper for a “recycler” to shipe-waste to China than to dispose of it properly athome. Credit: Social Return on Investment

Strategy

Greenpeace identified 14 of the largest hi-techcompanies and the cocktail of toxic chemicalscontained in their products. The NGO then rankedeach company according to its global efforts to



eliminate harmful chemicals and take responsibilityfor waste. The Apple Company consistently rankedamong the worst performers on the ‘green’ scale.Greenpeace launched an online campaign with anattractive, user-friendly website in a style identical toan Apple Company website. Right down to thegraphics, the site looked like a creation of Apple.This appealed to curious “techies” and Apple lovers.On the front page, Greenpeace coined the slogan“Green my Apple, to the core,” and outlined theproblem with Apple’s practices.

The website gave a list of things to do as part of thecampaign. With the click of a mouse, you couldwrite to Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, to express yourconcern. You could buy buttons and organic cottont-shirts to publicize the campaign. You could send e-cards to other Mac-users to inform them of thehazards behind their screens. You could use yourown Apple computer to create an artistic ad for thecampaign.

To accompany the website, Greenpeace produced aspoof keynote speech presented by a stand-in forSteve Jobs. In the spoof, fake Steve announced anew environmental policy for Apple. When itreached YouTube, the video was viewed over100,000 times. Greenpeace teams visited Appleretail outlets to speak to customers about greeningApple. Students on three continents organized‘Green my Apple’ events on university campuses.

Outcome

Thousands of Apple fans flocked to the site. Thewebsite won a 2007 WeBBY Award for ‘BestActivist Site’. Visitors to the website sent almost50,000 letters to Steve Jobs. Nine months after thewebsite’s launch, Steve Jobs officially announced“A Greener Apple” on the front page of the officialApple website. Apple declared a phase out of theworst chemicals in its product range, BrominatedFire Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl chloride(PVC), by 2008. Their commitment beats Dell andother computer manufactures' pledge to eliminatethem by 2009.

According to Greenpeace, a number of CEOs werevying for the top green spot, and challenging theircompetitors to adopt industry-wide policies toreduce the problem of e-waste. On the Greenpeace‘Green’ scale from 1 to 10, Apple, now in tenth

place, raised its score from 2.7 to 5.3. The companyNokia has maintained the highest score (now 8.0)since the beginning of the ranking. It has alreadyphased out PVC, and met or exceeded a wide set ofGreenpeace determined benchmarks. Dell andChinese manufacturer Lenovo were tied for secondplace. Sony was the biggest loser in this edition,languishing at the bottom along with LGE.

However, Apple still isn't recycling Apple productsother than those sold in the US. Other manufacturersoffer worldwide take-back and recycling. As of2007, Apple hasn't marketed an actual greenproduct, but no other electronics manufacture haseither. Canada and the developing world, wherethere are large numbers of electronic devices, havean opportunity to pressure manufacturers to changetheir practices. “Cleaner” electronics products willimprove the health of people in all sections of theworld.

Bibliography

Mellor, Chris. Greenpeace praises Apple for greenchanges: Apple moves up, while Sony and LGEs l i d e d o w n g r e e n s c a l e :http://computerworlduk.com/technology/hardware/macs/news/index.cfm?newsid=3772



Environmental protection initiative #3Building sustainable fisheries in Cuba

Background

The marine and coastal ecosystems in Cuba supportan incredible range of species. Important breeding,nesting and feeding sites for fish and other marinespecies make for astonishing biological diversity. Inaddition, the region is home to edible fish species.Fortunately, when compared to many other regions,Cuba’s marine and coastal ecosystems are relativelywell protected. The UN has designated the entireregion of Villa Clara as a Special Region ofSustainable Development because people rely on theresources in this ecologically sensitive naturalenvironment.

However, people in several provinces rely on fishingresources and the Cuban fishing industry is growing.Fishing an important part of the Cuban economy andhigh-protein fish is an essential part of the averageCuban diet. As a result, over-fishing by commercialand individual fishers, use of destructive fishinggear, and loss of critical habitats is putting Cuba’sfisheries at risk. To make matters worse, there is adivision between conservation and economic laws,conflict between authorities and differing priorities.There is a lack of capital and many fishing villagesare remote. Authorities need to link habitatconservation and secure fishing resources topractical programs.

The value of fishing to the Cuban economy, thenutritional value of fish to the Cuban diet and theimportance of a sustainable fishery to people in VillaClara province are important reason to address theissue of over-fishing.

Problem

There is an urgent need to ensure that Cubans havethe knowledge, skills and tools to manage its fisheryas a sustainable resource.

Project goals

In 2004, the World Wildlife Federation (WWF)worked with the Ministry of Fisheries of theRepublic of Cuba to establish a modern sustainablefishery in Northern Villa Clara. CIDA was a major

contributing donor to the $550, 000 project thatended in 2007.

Protecting the habitat and adopting environmentallysensitive fishing practices will sustain Cuba’simportant fishing industry. Source: MarineBio.org

Strategy

WWF based the project on eco-system management(EBM) balances the social and economic needs ofcommunities and the maintenance of healthyecosystems. EBM improves fisheries management,reduces the impacts of fishing and promotessustainably caught seafood. The project focused onthe province of Villa Clara on the north-central coastof Cuba. The area encompassed 128,000 hectares ofcoastal and offshore areas that included extensivebeaches, mangrove forests, sea-grass beds, patchesof coral reefs and a deep marine shelf.

Working with local people, international workerslaunched habitat protection campaigns and taughtenvironmentally friendly fishing techniques. Localpeople were involved in the conservation efforts toensure the solutions last.

Outcome

The project was a successful community-trainingproject in sustainable fisheries. It increased thesustainability and value of an important fisherythrough habitat protection. As well, local peopleworked in the conservation efforts. The results areless marine pollution, stronger local economies,better fishing practices and more protection for



endangered species. The project laid the groundworkfor alternative fisheries and community-basedaquaculture. By combining environmental actionwith economic development, communities are nowpart of the solution. The project benefited 3, 000people in the region and created an interest forsimilar projects in other areas.

The project helped Cuba integrate conservation witheconomic development, which brought benefits tothe environment and the people. The government ispreparing to adopt a strategic plan for the creation ofa network of Marine Protected Areas. The WWF-Canada Villa Clara project provides evidence thatCIDA’s contributions in Cuba are making adifference. Other areas on the island and perhapsother areas in the Caribbean will apply the lessonslearned. Canada and the developed world have anopportunity to develop similar projects in otherregions around the world to ensure all people in theglobal village have access to high-protein fish as partof their diet.

Bibliography

Advance Sustainable Fisheries in Cuba:http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/latin_america_and_caribbean/country/cuba/index.cfm?uProjectID=CU0003



Environmental protection initiative #4Combating desertification in the Sahel

Background

One of the most dramatic examples of climateunpredictability is the Sahel region. This areaincludes stretching across Africa, south of the Saharadesert. It includes Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad,Gambia, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania,Niger, Senegal, Somalia, and Sudan. The Sahelregion was prone to drought before human activityaccelerated desertification. Desertification occurswhen rural dryland regions are made even drier byhuman activities and drought. It is a seriousenvironmental problem that affects over 100countries worldwide. Today, human activity is themain cause of desertification.

Rainfall levels in the Sahel region have declined by20-40% in recent decades and the soil has beenbecome for for growing. Declining rainfall causeschanges in vegetation. For example, grasses giveway to small weeds, and shrubs give way to grasscover. As plants get smaller, there are no roots toanchor the soil. High winds can remove fertiletopsoils, causing soil erosion. Fields bare ofvegetative cover are easily eroded by the strongrunoff at the start of the rainy season.

Dryland ecosystems are very fragile, making themvulnerable to over-use by farming or industry. Over-use of the land can result from many different social,economic, and political pressures. People may bepushed onto unsuitable land due to land shortages orpoverty. Farmers will often over-cultivate the fewavailable areas of fertile land to increase productionof export crops.

Desertification also contributes to globalenvironmental problems, including climate change,loss of biodiversity, and pollution of internationalwaters. Global climate change may in turn acceleratedesertification if temperatures increase or if rainfalldecreases.

Problem

Food security in the Sahel region is threatenedunless governments make an effort to protect theenvironment and slow desertification.

Project goals

The Agrhymet Regional Centre (ARC) in Niamey,Niger conducts research and training in nine Sahelcountries. The goal is to make people in the Sahelregion less vulnerable to climate change and toprotect the environment. CIDA contributed $5million to boost the Centre’s research and trainingbetween 2002 and 2008.

Herders in the Sahel region have problems findingforage or feeding areas for their cattle. FAO: Balderi

Strategy

The Agrhymet Regional Centre (ARC) has two coreprograms – a training program and an informationprogram. Experts at the ARC range from experts oninsects to agricultural scientists. ARC offers three-year engineering programs related to Sahel foodsecurity and two-year diploma courses fortechnicians. The Centre also has the necessaryequipment to make mathematical models, digitalmaps and publish materials.

ARC produces, manages and distributes informationabout food security, ways of combatingdesertification and management of renewable naturalresources. The Centre has a network of nationalcorrespondents. It also has the equipment it vitallyneeds to process data and train technicians.

Outcome

Prior to receiving CIDA funding, the ARC hadalready made valuable contributions to research ondesertification in the Sahel region. Thanks to



partnerships like the one with CIDA, they continueto gather data and bring solutions to marginalizedinhabitants of the Sahel. Their efforts areincreasingly necessary as desertification intensifies,affecting millions.

In the fall of 2007, 70 students graduated withBachelor Degrees in Engineering, Agronomy,Hydrology, Instrumentation and Microcomputing.As well, twenty students earned higher technician incrop protection diplomas. To date, 935 students havegraduated from ARC. ARC training programs have asignificant impact on countries in the Sahel region.More than 60% of the personnel of relevant nationalservices are ARC graduates. Countries within theSahel region will benefit from ARC programs asgraduates work to protect the fragile eco-system ofthe drylands. Canada and the developing world havean opportunity to learn from the research at theCentre as they work to protect drylands in otherareas of the globe.

Bibliography

Project Browser: Climate Change AdaptationCapacity Support: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/cpo.nsf/vWebProjBySectorEn/0729468B56F9F4AC85257019003185D6

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